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Acuta Enews October 1988, Vol. 17, No. 10

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Administrative Director

President's Message

Party Line

User Groups

Anatomy of a Telecommunications Installation Part 3

Regional Meeting Reports

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 31 Number 1, Fall 1988, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

12 - MY CHINA YEAR Cathy Morrissey '85 guides us through her year in China, teaching English as a second language in Handan.

19 - IT PAYS TO LET YOUR KID RUN WILD The story of a remarkable relationship between a Japanese firm and Michael Franz '75.

21 - THE REWAK YEARS Alumna-journalist Jeanne Huber describes the way Santa Clara grew during the Rewak administration.

26 - THE DEGNAN WAY How a respected English professor turns undergraduates into professional writers.

Learning System, Bhavesh T. Adani

Theses

Many rule-based learning systems have been implemented which generate and update rules/facts from illustrative examples provided by the user. But very few of them have succeeded in achieving the efficiency and accuracy of an ideal system.

The approach made here is to continuously update the hierarchical structure of rules/facts of a knowledge-base so that efficient and accurate solutions to any query can be achieved easily and immediately from the many possible solutions to the query. As the rule-based systems deal with a very large knowledge-base, it is sometimes necessary to apply a learning technique that finds optimum solutions efficiently.

The …

Development Of A Novel Dentin Bonding Agent And Testing For Mechanical Properties, Mircroleakage And Toxicity, Sanjay V. Odak

Theses

In this study a dentin bonding agent based on Tolylene diisocyanatc with o chlorophenol as a blocking agent was tested. Bond strength with dentin was determined using a clinically relevant test method. A comparison was made using commercially available bonding agents and restorative resins. A simulation of microleakage around restorations was performed using a "Silver staining technique". Microleakage was quantified using digital image analysis, and a method was proposed to compensate for the loss of the third dimension during image analysis. Layer-by-layer curing of restorative, and an acid etching technique was used to improve bonding to dentin. The oral LD50 …

Analysis And Design Of A Surface Microengineered Silicon Humidity Sensor, Uei-Yanq Chen

Theses

This thesis details the design for a solid-state humidity sensor which utilizes state-of-the-art silicon technology. The sensor design utilizes a microengineered surface which includes a polysilicon airbridge structure as heater and sensor element in an integrated device.The operation of this device depends upon the small variation of thermal convection coefficient which effects the temperature of the heated element within the device. The temperature of the polysilicon bridge is monitored by means of a resistance bridge. In one design(sensor I) a single polysilicon airbridge is used for both the heater and resistance sensing element. Also a second inferior design (sensor II) …

Optimal Cache Size In Microprocessor-Based Multiprogramming System, Charalambos Stephanou Christou

Theses

The Motorola 68020 microprocessor, its paged memory management unit MC68851 and cache memories are rigorously studied. The simulation model of this uniprocessor, multiprogramming system was constructed and tested to determine the optimal physical cache size.

The parameters varied in the model are the cache size, the degree of multitasking, the loop count and size, the cache algorithm and the time slice given to every task. A number of simulations have been conducted and the results are examined.

The Strategic Planning Dilemma In American Manufacturing, James Andrew Kiray

Theses

The decline of American manufacturing competitiveness is a highly publicized and controversial issue. This publicity has led to a panacea of solutions being offered to this problem. As a result, many conflicting viewpoints have emerged, which have aided in making any solution to this problem extremely difficult. Top executives have been inundated with recommendations for change, causing confusion at all levels of management.

In an effort to define the underlying problems existing within the American strategic planning process, this author has selected current literature which supports his own views, and has expended upon these views.

Once these underlying problems are …

Computerized Analysis Of Gastrointestinal Spike Burst Activity, Karthik Krishnan

Theses

This thesis describes a computer algorithm for locating gastrointestinal spike bursts. The algorithm also finds the the number of spikes within each spike burst, the average duration, and average amplitude of each spike burst. The algorithm was applied to the automation of the analysis of the Migrating Colonic Complex.

The algorithm detects the spike burst using threshold, time interval and frequency criteria. The computer program is implemented on a PDP 11/73 digital computer. The operation of the algorithm was tested on animal models to detect the spike bursts, before and after the inducement of certain drugs to alter the colonic …

Arithmetic Pipline Scheduler, Chun-Ta Pan

Theses

A schedule is used to determine which stages of an arithmetic pipeline are active at any particular time. It can determine when another process can be introduced into the pipeline so no more than one set of data will use the same stage at the same time. The Arithmetic Pipeline Scheduler (APS) is a software tool used to analyze schedules for different operations and determine greedy schemes for introducing data into the pipeline. The user can use APS to process up to ten arithmetic equations. The user also can use APS to define different configurations of stages. Besides, APS can …

Computer Analysis Of The Electrocardiogram Using Hardware Digital Signal Processing, Mohammad Ashfaque Shaikh

Theses

A system based on the microcomputer IBM PC-AT has been realized to acquire and filter the clinical electrocardiogram (ECG) data in real time. The system program further detects and analyzes the ECG signals for possible cardiac arrhythmias.

This research is based on work done by previous researchers and achieves significant goals towards achieving on-line arrhythmia detection using a microcomputer. The system uses the hardware and software package ASPI 320/PC from Atlanta Signal Processors Inc. This hardware configuration uses a special purpose instrumentation microprocessor ( TMS32010 from Texas Instruments) to coprocess the ECG signals. Coprocessing the signals with the ASPI 320/PC …

Development Of A Knowledge-Based System For Human Error Analysis, Bang-Chiang Sung

Theses

Human Factors is one of several essential issues in a discussion of system productivity. Its consideration must be included in the design, development, operation, and maintenance of any human-machine system. In order to maximize the system productivity, humans must perform with their maximum possible efficiency. To achieve this, all human-related activities must be evaluated to determine their possible causes of errors and the consequences. Then, if unable to completely remove, the causes of human errors must be minimized.

This thesis integrates a knowledge of expert system into an analysis of human errors. Its objective is to develop a knowledge-based system …

Cotgame: Cotton Insect Pest Management Simulation Game, Kunter S. Akbay, R.W. Mcclendon, L. G. Brown

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

An interactive version of the Cotton and Insect Management (CIM) model was developed to aid individuals in improving their insect pest management decision making skills. This version, COTGAME, allowed the user to encounter situations and make decisions during the simulated cotton crop growing season. The intermediate results of these decisions were immediately delivered in the form of a report on the current status of the crop and insect populations. Based on the information presented in this status report, the user would make additional management decisions and take tactical actions. Once the harvest date had been reached, the economics of the …

Estimation Of X-Band Scattering Properties Of Tree Components, David E. Pitts, Gautam D. Badhwar, Eddie Reyna, R. Zoughi, Linkim Wu, Richard K. Moore

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An X-band FM-CW very fine range resolution scatterometer was used to acquire backscattering data for individual branches for a number of tree species. Using a model to describe the scattering source function, dσ/dR = f(η, κ), and an experimental procedure for selected removal of plant parts, allows the estimation of η, the volume backscatter coefficient, and κ, the volume extinction coefficient. It is found that 1) leaves are strong attenuators as well as scatterers, 2) the albedo, ω = η/κ, at a given angle of incidence, is nearly independent of the tree type, 3) the tree …

A Productivity Measurement System For Human Resources Management, Vivian C. Keenan

Theses

A Productivity Measurement System was designed to meet the needs of a company's Human Resources management. This thesis presents the design, testing, and implementation of this system.

During the design stage, the jobs and main activities were identified and the key volume indicators were established. Data was collected using time studies, work sampling techniques and historical data. Time studies and historical data were used primarily to measure the information for the activities. Work sampling techniques proved to be very effective in obtaining measurements for personal time and unavoidable delays.

The data was analyzed and time standards were set for the …

Clinical Base Station For Portable Patient Monitoring Equipment, Silin Kuang

Theses

In today's clinical environment, where it is not always desirable to have a computer terminal present, a microcontroller-based biomedical system with multi-purpose features is needed. The present work offers an approach for a clinical based desktop workstation that provides the physician with record files, general management of his patient group, and specific algorithms for patient or group analyses. The workstation has the capabilities to acquire a large number of data from a portable patient monitoring device, generate a hard copy graphic record, create a patient cardfile and an . office personnel loggin file, and check patient's appointment and emergency list. …

Istemcr : Integrated System For Truck Engine Monitoring Via Cellular Radio, Tse-Shan Pan

Theses

The study presented is aimed at the application of the Data Acquisition to The Truck Engine as the source of all the signals, with the mobile telephone Cellular Radio system.

A Word Based Data Compression Using Arithmetic Encoding, Christopher Dean Peckham

Theses

It is usually difficult to compress data from a statistically unknown source and yield a good compression ratio. Using the fact that words are the fundamental basis of the written language, a data compression scheme based on words should yield high compression ratios. Discussed here is a compression scheme that gathers words from the source stream and places them in a dictionary, or word list, to use later in the coding, thereby becoming adaptive to the words in a given file without prior knowledge of the source. When a word is in the word dictionary, it is encoded by its …

Implementation Of A Cross Coupled Phase Locked Loop System With Closed Loop Amplitude Control, Behzad Sadeghi

Theses

A system was designed, to demodulate an FM signal in presence of an interfering signal whose frequency was very close to the desired signal, this system was implemented and tested based on the theory of cross coupled phase locked loop systems, originaly proposed by (1).

This system included two phase locked loops for the purpose of demodulation, two low pass filters and two integrators, for the purpose of amplitude estimation. Two additional phase locked loops were designed to act as a 90° phase shifter. The following is the result of the theory, design procedure and some tabulated data for this …

Highway Safety Research, Development, And Technology Transfer, John A. Deacon

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Late in 1987, the Federal Highway Administration assembled a seven-member panel which, guided by a primary contractor, Harrison Boyd & Associates, was charged with the task of developing a recommended five-year research, development, and technology transfer program for highway safety starting in the 1990s. As a part of the task, each panel member prepared an individual position paper to stimulate and focus panel discussions and, ultimately, to provide the basis for a consensus paper. This represents one such individual paper.

Although it is believed that significant safety gains can be achieved in the 1990s and beyond simply by more extensive …

Acuta Enews August 1988, Vol. 17, No. 8

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

President's Message

Party Line

User Groups

Telecommunications Systems, 19 times

Anatomy OF A Telecommunications Installation

Optimal Conjunctive Use-Sustained Yield Pumping Analysis For Eastern Arkansas, Rosalinda R.A. Cantiller, Richard C. Peralta, Hossein Azarmnia

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The likelihood that irrigated agricultural acreages will increase in eastern Arkansas is high. This results from favorable agricultural soils, climate, and the availability of significant water resources.

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 30 Number 4, Summer 1988, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

12 - CARING FOR AGING PARENTS As Americans live longer, children find themselves making decisions for their parents.

16 - KIDNAPPED IN BEIRUT Charles Glass '72 writes about his 62 days of captivity and his escape to freedom.

20 - A MARK OF SUCCESS Mark Alsterlind '76, living in Van Gogh's hometown, pursues his dream to be a painter.

24 - GIFT OF THE MAGUS A wise man from England brought gifts still warmly treasured by Santa Clara.

26 - IS BRAINWASHING POSSIBLE? An absorbing interview on mind control with law professor Alan Scheflin.

Impulse, Janet Blank-Libra, Bryon Bohlender, Jennifer Pint

Impulse (Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering Publication)

No abstract provided.

Application Of Advanced Grid Generation Techniques For Flow Field Computations About Complex Configurations, Monchai Kathong

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In the computation of flow fields about complex configurations, it is very difficult to construct a boundary-fitted coordinate system. An alternative approach is to use several grids at once, each of which is generated independently. This procedure is called the "multiple grids" or "zonal grids" approach, and its applications are investigated in this study. The method is a conservative approach and provides conservation of fluxes at grid interfaces. The Euler equations are solved numerically on such grids for various configurations. The numerical scheme used is the finite-volume technique with a three-stage Runge-Kutta time integration. The code is vectorized and programmed …

Atamm Multicomputer System Design, William Robert Tymchyshyn

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The Algorithm To Architecture Mapping Model, or ATAMM, is a graph theoretic design methodology that has been created to resolve design and performance issues involved with concurrent processing. Petri-net marked graphs are used to represent the computational environment.

This thesis describes the development of a multicomputer system which will operate within the bounds specified by the ATAMM model. The system is first designed and implemented using the framework of standard multicomputer design theory. A validation is then performed by the comparison of the system's computational performance to results predicted by ATAMM. This validation is shown to be successful for three …

A General Correction For Spontaneous Potential Well Logs In Fresh Water, Cary L. Mcconnell

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A generalized empirical relationship was found which corrects spontaneous potential (SP) readings from well logs run in freshwater wells. The function was found by correlating measured and calculated spontaneous potentials. The calculated values are based on actual measured ionic content of groundwaters and are fully corrected for environmental effects and ion species. Without the empirical relationship the electrically equivalent to an NaCl solution resistivity, Rwe, is generally too low for fresh waters when computed with existing commercially available functions. The low Rwe makes the water appear saltier than it really is. One hundred sixty-two (162) individual formations from one hundred …

Lithotectonic Landslides And Hazards In Parts Of Garhwal-Kumaon Himalayas, R. S. Mithal

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

Landslides produce an awesome picture of the hill sides with steep scarred, hollowed and gullied geomorphic features devoid of vegetation particularly between the major thrust zones. A look on the tectono-stratigraphic map of the region with marked major tectonic features like the Main Central Thrust (MCT), North Almora Thrust (NAT) and South Almora Thrust (SAT) indicates that the region is highly prone to landslides and is affected by repeated tectonic and orogenic processes. These factors with the nature of the rocks, climate and the heavy monsoon rains are responsible for sculpturing the region. The mountain features and the valley slopes …

Measurement And Simulation Of One-Dimensional Transient Three Phase Flow For Monotonic Liquid Drainage, R. J. Lenhard, J. Dane, J. C. Parker, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Simultaneous movement of oil, water, and air in a sandy porous medium was investigated experimentally under transient flow conditions and results were compared to numerical simulations employing a finite element multiphase flow code. The liquid hydrocarbon was Soltrol 170, a low-density branched alkane mixture. Liquid saturations were measured using a collinear dual-energy gamma radiation apparatus and liquid pressures were measured using hydrophilic (untreated) and hydrophobic (treated) ceramic tensiometers connected to pressure transducers. The experimental regime was selected to impose monotonically draining water and total liquid saturation paths to avoid hysteretic effects. Measured saturations and pressures are compared to values obtained …

Analysis Of Accidents In Construction And Maintenance Work Zones, Jerry G. Pigman, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report includes documentation of the two following phases of the study : 1) analysis of statewide accidents for the period 1983 through 1986 in which "road under construction" was listed as a contributing factor; and 2) analysis of accident data and traffic control devices used at 20 case study locations. At the case study locations, accident data were analyzed for a three-year period before construction and compared to the period during construction.

Results from the statewide analysis indicate that even though the level of construction and maintenance activity is higher and traffic volumes have increased, there have not been …

Design And Construction Of A Soil Bentonite Slurry Wall Around An Operating Facility Superfund Site, A. S. Burgess, G. S. Laird, M. S. Leonard

International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering

A soil bentonite slurry wall was designed for an NPL site to stop further migration of chemicals in a complex aquifer system, and to facilitate the removal of possible chemical sources from saturated zones beneath the site. Pumping from within the slurry wall will maintain inward and upward hydraulic gradients and thus stop further lateral or vertical migration of chemicals from the contained area. The slurry wall was constructed under an exceptionally detailed Quality Assurance; Quality Control review by the Contractor and two independent consulting firms. Ground movements, vibration levels and opacity of dust produced during construction were monitored for …